“France will be unforgiving with the barbarians …” So said French President François Hollande following the horrifying attacks in Paris in mid-November.
Yes, the attacks were murderous, heinous and vicious. Innocent people died. But “unforgiving?”
The word he used was impitoyable, which can mean ruthless, merciless, relentless, unmerciful, unfeeling, etc. Presumably it was meant to show the world that France remains strong. Or at least to show French citizens that their president remains strong.
Many saw shades of former U.S. president George W. Bush in the aftermath of 9/11. Back then, the United States had an opportunity to react in a measured way—to reveal its self-proclaimed Christian character.
Sadly, it did no such thing. And where are we today after almost a decade and a half of fighting? In Paris. Mourning yet more innocent dead.
Looking at the whole arc of the holy writings from the Hebrew and Christian covenants, several particularly relevant themes emerge.
First, our faith is one that permeates all of life. As one biblical commentator put it: “To know God is to respond to him in faithful love and to have the whole of life determined by the understanding of oneself and one’s fellow men that becomes possible in this relation.”
Secondly, among other things, scripture tells a story of the Hebrew people’s deepening understanding of God. Unlike other ancient concepts of God, the God of Abraham is a God of restorative justice. Not that there aren’t consequences for disobedience but, as epitomized by the prophet Hosea, God bends over backwards to restore broken relationships with people.
Thirdly, God calls us to protect all vulnerable people.
And then there’s Christmas: the celebration of the all-powerful creator God setting aside divine power to become a vulnerable little baby—a baby whose short adult ministry was focused on preaching God’s love, forgiveness and restoration.
God’s love, as Jesus teaches, is uncompromising. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. … Love your enemies, and do good … for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”
There are good arguments to be made from scripture in favour of pacifism; there are others that may be used to permit defending innocents against aggressors. What there is no case for is being unforgiving or unmerciful.
Yes, we should sympathize with France and all other peoples who are killed and terrorized in the world. But Christians can never countenance being unforgiving.
Whether to take up arms in the kind of situation we now face should never be an easy decision. It should keep us and our leaders up at night weighing what the best course is.
What should remain an easy decision is to continue to welcome all refugees, including Syrians displaced by the Daesh renegades. This Christmas, let’s make sure there is room in our inns. “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)
